Texans' Slaton, Quin likely out at Jacksonville

Slaton may miss game with numb right thumbQuin to sit out against Jags, but Brown good to go

DALE ROBERTSON , Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle |
December 4, 2009

Numbness in his right thumb, caused by unspecified nerve issues in his neck and shoulder, could keep running back Steve Slaton out of the Texans’ crucial game with Jacksonville on Sunday. And rookie defensive back Glover Quin, a key reserve in the secondary, is a definite scratch because of the head injury he suffered against the Indianapolis Colts.

But there’s good news, too.

It appears left tackle Duane Brown has bounced back sufficiently from the knee sprain he suffered on the next-to-last play of the Colts game and will be able to keep his starting streak intact.

Although Slaton has been bothered by the numbness for several weeks, coach Gary Kubiak said the condition had worsened in the last day or so and the decision was made to hold him out of practice Friday. Neither Kubiak nor Slaton himself would completely discount his chances of playing against the Jaguars, but it appears likely Chris Brown will get the start with Ryan Moats becoming the backup.

“It’s an issue,” Kubiak said. “It’s something that’s been bothering Steve. We’ve been trying to work him through it, but it seems to have gotten worse in the course of the last 24 hours. We’ll see. We didn’t want him to take reps away from a guy like Ryan who might have to play a lot.

“With the things Steve has to do, trying to protect the ball, holding on to the ball, protecting the quarterback ... it’s a concern.”

Slaton, who is righthanded, didn’t blame his fumbling woes earlier in the season on the loss of feeling in the thumb.

“No, I can’t say that had anything to do with it,” he said.

Slaton didn’t sound overly concerned, suggesting: “It’s just something that’s going to take some time. I’ll wait to Sunday and see how it feels. It’s a little scary, I guess, but I’ve talked to the doctors and they told me it would be fine.”

Progress pleases tackle

Duane Brown participated fully in the Friday practice and said he’s prepared to start, although he’ll be wearing a substantial knee brace.

“Obviously anybody who protects the quarterback’s blind side is important to the team,” Kubiak said. “It’s huge for our team (that he plays). This kid has not missed a snap since he got off the plane (as the top draft choice in 2008) here in Houston. We count on him big time. I see him over there smiling, so I feel very good about his being ready to go.”

Brown was limping badly in the locker room after the Indy game. He admits, based on how the knee felt then, he’s surprised to have progressed as much as he has.

“It was really sore,” he said. “But today it felt the best it has. I’m pretty encouraged with the way I’ve progressed this week.”

He smiled.

“I didn’t have much of a choice,” he said, acknowledging how important the Jacksonville outcome is to the 5-6 Texans’ playoff chances. “If it’s just pain, I’ll be able to get through. I’ve got a knee sleeve that will give it pretty good stabilization and to help me mentally, too. And I’m planting my leg differently to help compensate for it.”

Rashad Butler has prepared himself all week for what would be his first NFL start, which he called “the opportunity of a lifetime.

“The difference for me this week,” Butler said, “has been that I’ve been focusing only my assignments for left tackle instead of both sides. I’m ready if I’m needed.”

Butler is a former third-round draft choice in Carolina who has been a Texans insurance policy since they acquired him off waivers before the 2007 season. Kubiak praised Butler for “having a good week of work.”

Better safe than sorry

Quin, who fills a variety of key roles in the secondary and on special teams, took a knee to the side of his helmet during what became the Colts’ final touchdown drive that left him woozy. He’s unhappy to be sidelined but understands why the decision was made. The NFL has become hypersensitive to the ramifications of any kind of head injury.

“I’ve had a few concussion symptoms, like a headache, this week,” Quin said. “It’s nothing major. We’re just taking precautions. I haven’t been throwing up or anything.

“I’m very disappointed. This is the type of game I’d want to play in, hard-nosed and physical. But I’ll just sit out this week and hope I can come back next week.”